How to Have an Affair: Author’s new book.

Author Lindsay Harper’s new book How to Have an Affair doesn’t immediately spring to mind as the most romantic of books to publish on Valentine’s day.

But that’s where you’d be wrong.

Lindsay says while researching her fourth novel she came across some important tips for making your relationships work.

“I have to admit I was a little surprised when my publisher told me the publication date,” says Lindsay, 54, from Wakefield.

“But at the end of the day it is a love story with a happy ending even if its not the ending you are expecting.”

Lindsay always wrote as a child growing up in Armley, Leeds. “I loved the books of Barbara Taylor Bradford and a lot of the places she wrote about were on my way to school,”explains Lindsay.

“I’d write stories when I was little but then you go to university and start work and I just didn’t really have the time.”

It was after having her two children that Lindsay started writing again, this time a children’s book. But it wasn’t really until she decided to retire in 2010 that she decided to write full-time.

But when she struggled to find a publisher, rather than be put off she and her husband Paul set up their own publishing company.

“It was great, but it there is so much involved that it leaves you very little time to write and so with this latest book I decided I wanted to go to an established publisher and found one in America, 5 Prince publishing.”

How to Have an Affair centres on Jay Trethedick who is himself writing a self-help book – How To Have An Affair – when he meets married mum of two, Robyn Fisher at a weekend seminar in Leeds. “The story of love and loss follows Robyn and Jay as they try to resist their electric chemistry and charts the impact of the affair on their other relationships – including Robyn’s children,” explains Lindsay who had already written a sequel and is busy completing the third in the series.

“It’s not at all Mills and Boons,” she stresses. “ I regard myself as a writer of contemporary women’s fiction. My subjects are all relevant to life today.”

And as we approach St Valentine’s day here are Lindsay’s tips for a good relationship.

LOVE is the most important. Make sure you still love each other and are not staying together out of habit or convenience.

HONESTY – Every relationship needs honesty which means no skeletons in the closet!

FRIENDSHIP – Is your partner your best friend? If not, why not?

RESPECT – has to be earned and is not a given.

FAITHFULNESS – Is it still your partner you fantasise about or is that person in the office or at the gym the one that comes into your mind?

SEX – Are you still getting enough? A compatible sex drive is really important for a happy, healthy relationship.

HUMOUR – Do you still laugh together? Make sure you don’t fall into the pattern of taking yourself too seriously.

COMPROMISE –Compromise on little things but make sure you’re not compromising yourself and your values. Compromise is a two way street.

INDIVIDUALITY – You don’t want to turn into a carbon copy of your partner and you can maintain your own identity and still be part of a loving partnership.

TRUST – is not just about fidelity, it’s more about the little things. Can you trust your partner with your life? Will they step up if the going gets tough?